A paraprofessional training program designed to provide community controlled mental health services to the Woodlawn community of Chicago, Illinois, is described in this monograph. The neighborhood and The Woodlawn Organization (T.W.O.A), a self help project formed in early 1960, are described from an historical perspective. Some of the areas discussed in this history include the primarily black community's relationship with the adjacent University of Chicago, urban renewal and model cities, relationships between the community and local businesses, tenants' rights, the public school system, and social services. The goals and founding principles of the Woodlawn mental health program (co-sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and T.W.O.), as well as training activities designed to meet these goals are outlined. The competency based curriculum developed by T.W.O. to train community mental health leaders is presented. The program contains seminar, practicum, and individual study components. Courses are described in the areas of program development and evaluation; services to families, children and youth; services to consumers with special needs; group facilitation; development of human service networks; community action/change agentry; and agency management. (GC)